Apple, Microsoft and Adobe prices are questioned in Australia

GADGET DESIGNER Apple as well as Microsoft and Adobe are facing questions in Australia about how much they charge customers down under.

The companies are under the gaze of the Australian parliament because their prices appear to be higher than they ought to be, considering the value of Australian currency.

"In what's probably the first time anywhere in the world, these IT firms are now being summoned by the Australian parliament to explain why they price their products so much higher in Australia compared to the United States," said ruling Labor government MP Ed Husic, according to a report in the Telegraph.

Husic and a parliament committee would like the three firms to come in and talk about what makes their products so expensive in Oz. Should he get his way, they will appear in parliament on 22 March.

He is not holding his breath, however, and since this is not the first time that their attendance has been requested, he expects that none of the firms will be particularly keen on turning up.

"The companies have blamed each other for not appearing. One will say 'we're not going to appear if the other is not going to appear'," he said. "So we've cut straight to the chase and said we'll just summons you." µ